Buddleja &#39;Miss Pearl&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Buddleja  cultivar named ‘MISS PEARL’ is disclosed, characterized by white ruffled flowers, upright spike-like inflorescences, compact growth habit with high lateral branching and dense foliage, medium green leaf color (adaxial side) with silver-gray underside. Plants are female sterile and anthers malformed or lacking. The new variety is a  Buddleja , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Buddleja

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘MISS PEARL’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Buddleja cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Dennis James Werner, at the HorticultureField Lab greenhouse NCSU Raleigh, N.C., U.S.A. The objective of thebreeding program was to produce new Buddleja varieties for ornamentalcommercial applications. The cross resulting in this new variety wasmade during July of 2009.

The seed parent is the, patented, commercial variety referred to asBuddleja ‘Ice Chip’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,015. The pollen parent is thepatented, commercial variety referred to as Buddleja ‘Miss Milly’ U.S.Plant Pat. No. 23,425 The new variety was discovered on Jun. 21, 2011 bythe inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2009 crossing,at the Sandhill Research Station, Jackson Springs, N.C., U.S.A.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by semi-hardwoodstem cuttings. This was first performed at the Horticulture Field Labgreenhouse NCSU Raleigh, N.C., U.S.A. in July of 2015 and has shown thatthe unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true totype in 2 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MISS PEARL’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘MISS PEARL’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘MISS PEARL’ as a new and distinct Buddlejacultivar:

1. Whited flowers with ruffled petals.2. Upright, spike-like inflorescences.3. Compact growth habit with high lateral branching and dense foliage.4. Medium green leaf color (adaxial side) with silver-gray underside.5. Essentially female sterile.6. Anthers malformed or lacking.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MISS PEARL’ are similar to plants of theseed parent, Buddleja ‘Ice Chip’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,015 in mosthorticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MISSPEARL’ differ in the following;

1. Semi-upright growth habit, whereas the seed parent has a spreadinggrowth habit.2. Ruffled petals, whereas the seed parent has non-ruffled petals.3. Flowers color is light yellow with brown center, maturing to beigewith violet center. The seed parent has flowers which are black withyellow stripes.4. The new variety produces more flowers.5. The new variety is less vigorous.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MISS PEARL’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, Buddleja ‘Miss Milly’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,425 in mosthorticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MISSPEARL’ differ in the following;

1. Flowers color is white, whereas the pollen parent has deep pinkflowers.2. Essentially female sterile, whereas the pollen parent is moderatelyfemale fertile.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MISS PEARL’ are comparable to the unpatentedcommercial variety Buddleja ‘White Ball’. The two Buddleja varieties aresimilar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety‘MISS PEARL’ differs in the following:

1. Semi-upright growth habit whereas the comparator has a rounded growthhabit.2. Longer inflorescences.3. Taller stature.4. Ruffled petals, whereas the comparator has non-ruffled petals.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MISS PEARL’ can also be compared to thepatented commercial variety Buddleja ‘Miss Ruby’ U.S. Plant Pat. No.19,950. The two Buddleja varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics; however, the new variety ‘MISS PEARL’ differs in thefollowing:

1. Flower color is white whereas the comparator flower color is pink.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical inflorescence of ‘MISS PEARL’. FIG. 2 illustrates a plant of‘Miss Pearl’ grown in a nursery, in a 3 gallon pot. Age of the plantphotographed is approximately 2-3 years old from a rooted cutting. FIG.3 illustrates a plant of ‘Miss Pearl’ grown in a nursery, in a 1 gallonpot, with aging inflorescence. The photographs were taken usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible byconventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 1996 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘MISS PEARL’ plants grown in a poly greenhouseduring the June, in Grand Haven, Mich. U.S.A. The growing temperatureranged from 18° C. to 27° C. during the day and from 5?C. to 10° C.during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Buddleja ‘MISS PEARL’-   Propagation:    -   -   Type of propagation typically used.—Softwood or            semi-hardwood cutting.        -   Time to initiate roots.—14-21 days at 21-23.8° C. average            temperature.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—45 days at 21-23.8° C.            average temperature.        -   Root description.—Dense, free-branching, medium thickness,            fleshy. Color is tan, not accurately described with R.H.S.            chart.-   Plant:    -   -   Age of plant described.—1 year from rooted cutting.        -   Plant type.—Perennial shrub.        -   Container size of the plant described.—3 gallon pot.        -   Appropriate containers.—1, 2, 3, 5 gallon commercial pots.        -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Overall plant shape.—Irregular cylindric.        -   Height.—63-76 cm in a 3 gallon container.        -   Plant spread.—63-76 cm in a 3 gallon container.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderate.        -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Quantity:            Average 50 Branching habit: Upright, basal branching some            pinching required. Branch appearance: Square Length: 10-12            in Diameter: 3 mm Color: RHS Yellow-green 144A Pubescence:            Highly pubescent Stem aspect/angle: Angle can be between 45°            to 90° from center of plant. Strength: Moderate.        -   Internode length.—7 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite, single Average Length: 9-10 cm            Average Width: 4.5 cm Shape: Lanceolate Apex: Acute Base:            Cuneate Margin: Slightly undulate and serrate Texture of top            surface: Soft/pubescent Texture of bottom surface:            Soft/pubescent Pubescence: Yes, both upper and lower side of            leaf. Color: Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 139A Young            foliage under side; Near RHS Greyed-green 191B Mature            foliage upper side: RHS Green 139A Mature foliage under            side: Near RHS Greyed-green 191B Venation: Type: Pinnate            Venation color upper side: RHS Green 139A. Venation color            under side: Near RHS Greyed-green 191B Petiole: Length: 3 mm            Diameter: 2 mm Color: Upper side: Near RHS Greyed-green 191B            Lower side: Near RHS Greyed-green 191B Texture: Upper side:            Soft/pubescent Lower side: Soft/pubescent.-   Flower:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Cone shape panicle.        -   Flower type.—Slaverform.        -   Flowering habit.—Paniculate.        -   Natural flowering season.—Late Spring to early Summer in            greenhouse early to late Summer in landscape.        -   Inflorescence height.—4 cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—2.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Dense panicle,            terminal and axillary.        -   Rate of flower opening.—Moderate.        -   Flower longevity on plant.—3-4 weeks.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Approximate average            of 200.        -   Quantity of flowers per plant.—Approximately 10,000 on 50            blooming inflorescence.        -   Bud.—Shape: Elongated, linear balloon Length: 3 mm Diameter:            1-2 mm Color: RHS Yellow-white 158D.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: 3 mm Length: 5 mm Depth (height): 5            mm.        -   Petals.—Appearance: Smooth, white, ruffled. Arrangement:            Whorled, fused. Petal length: 4 mm Petal width: 3 mm            Quantity: 5 Texture: Smooth and soft. Apex: Obtuse Shape:            Rotund Base: Acute Margin: Undulate Aspect: Upright/outward.        -   Petal color.—When opening: Upper surface: RHS White 155A            Lower surface: RHS White 155A Fully opened: Upper surface:            RHS White 155C Lower surface: RHS White 155C Fading to            Color: Upper and lower: RHS Greyed-yellow 160D fading to            Greyed-orange 165B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 Arrangement: Whorled Shape:            Lanceolate to Ovate Length: 3 mm Width: 2 mm Apex: Acute            Base: Cuneate Margin: Entire/inconspicuous Texture: Upper:            Smooth/pubescent Lower: Smooth/ slightly pubescent Color:            Upper Surface: RHS Yellow-green 144A Lower Surface: RHS            Yellow-green 144A.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Oblong and unguiculate Length: 1 mm Diameter:            1 mm Color: Too minute to accurately measure.        -   Peduncle.—Length: 1 mm Diameter: 0.5 mm Angle:            Upright/outward Strength: Moderate Texture: Smooth/pubescent            Color: RHS Greyed-orange 168D.        -   Pedicel.—Not present.        -   Fragrance.—Moderate; sweet fragrance.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 4 Filament length: 0.5 mm. Filament color:            RHS yellow-green 145A.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Malformed, less than 1 mm Pollen: Quantity:            Scant.        -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: 3 mm Style: Length: 1.5 mm Color:            RHS Yellow-green 144D Stigma: Shape: Round Color: RHS            Yellow-green 144C Ovary Color: RHS Yellow-green 144C.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Not observed to date.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to the normal diseases and pests of Buddleja            observed to date.        -   Lowest temperature tolerance.—to date in trials −13.9° C.        -   Highest temperature tolerance.—to date in trials 38.8° C.        -   Garden performance.—Good to excellent.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Buddleja plantnamed ‘MISS PEARL’ as herein illustrated and described.